I'ebrUary 20, 1904 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
163 
reverting to Mr. E. T. Cook’s invaluable services as lion, secre¬ 
tary, and proposing a special toast on bis behalf, which was 
cordially i*eceived with the usual honours. A hearty vote of 
thanks was finally accorded to Mr. Harry J. Veitch and Mr. 
George Monro for the lavish provision, of the former of floral 
table decorations, and by the latter of a generous supply of 
fruit, embracing Peaches, Nectarines and Plums from the Cape, 
which were of considerable interest a,s regards their novelty as 
well as merely gastromomically. 
Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund. 
The annual general meeting of the supporters of this in¬ 
stitution was held at the Cannon Street Hotel, London, E.C., 
on the 12th inst. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. H. B. 
May, the chairman of the executive committee, through illness, 
the chair was taken at 3 p.m. by Mr. W. Poupart, who called 
upon the secretary, Mr. B. Wynne, to read the minutes of the 
previous annual general meeting, which were confirmed. The 
chairman then made some remarks on the report and balance- 
sheet, which were presented to the meeting. 
Report and Balance-sheet for the Year 1903. 
The executive committee, in presenting their sixteenth annual 
report, congratulates the supporters of the fund on its con¬ 
tinued prosperity and usefulness, as although, from causes too 
well understood by all, they are but able to show a trifling in¬ 
crease over the previous year’s receipts from all sources, other 
than legacies, they have been enabled to increase their dis¬ 
bursements in the form of allowances and grants in aid from 
£1,092 15s. in 1902 to £1,255 10s. in 1903—a total increase of 
£162 15s. . , 
The committee have to deplore the falling off in annual sub- 
scriptions, as shown in the accounts presented, and the more 
so as the deficiency mainly arises from the non-renewal of 5s. 
subscriptions, but they hope and believe that when this fact, 
becomes known and the present dearth of money passes away, 
these subscriptions will be renewed and increased in number. 
They cannot believe that those in whose interest the fund 
was established are indifferent to its claims upon their support. 
Many there are, undoubtedly, who feel that they cannot sub¬ 
scribe 5s. annually, and these may be usefully reminded that 
all contributions are voluntary, and that the payment of a sub¬ 
scription one year does not imply that it must he continued in 
the next. 
The committee gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a legacy 
of £25 from the executors of the will of the late Mr. A. F. Osier, 
of Birmingham ; and also the kindly generosity of the Earl of 
Ilchester in throwing open his beautiful gardens at Holland 
House, on the occasion of the Royal Horticultural Society’s ex¬ 
hibition being held there, by which means the fund benefitted 
to a substantial amount. The legacies left to the fund by Mr. 
A. H. Smee and Mrs. John Wills, amounting to £350, have been 
1 invested in. the purchase of £380 12s. 2d. two and a-half per 
cent. Consols. 
The committee keenly regrets to record the loss which the 
fund has sustained- by the death of two of its founders, Mr. 
A. F. Barron, of Chiswick, and Mr. James Smith, of Mentmore. 
Of Mr. Barron’s devotion to the fund while its secretary for 
eleven years it is not possible to feel other than the keenest 
’ appreciation, or to speak other than in the highest terms, while 
of Mr. Smith it may be said that for several years after the 
establishment of the fund he served on the committee, and until 
his death was a zealous collector in aid of the charity whose 
interest he had so warmly at heart. 
Tlie number of orphans who have been elected to receive the 
benefits of the fund during the past fifteen years is 179, and the 
. total amount expended in allowances during the same period is 
£12.192 17s. 6d. At the commencement of the year the number 
of children receiving the full allowance was 73, and 24 were 
added to the list by special resolution at the annual meeting. 
Hie number on the fund now is 88, and 10 will be added by 
election this day. Most of the candidates have been in receipt 
of compassionate allowances since their nominations were ac¬ 
cepted, and while the committee would have been glad if they 
could have seen their way to put a larger number than 10 on 
the fund, prudence dictates the safer course, especially having 
regard to the fact that as a result of the beneficial alteration 
made in Rule XIII. at the last annual meeting they have ex¬ 
tended the payment of allowances in some cases for varying 
periods beyond the 14 years limit. 
The committee again gladly tender their warmest thanks to 
the local secretaries for valued services rendered, and also grate¬ 
fully acknowledge the zealously continued exertions on behalf 
of the fund made by gardening friends in various centres, and 
could heartily wish that their number could be increased. 
The annual festival, held on May 5th, under the presidency 
of the Right Hon. the Earl Carrington, P.C., again proved an 
unqualified success from every point of view, and as a slight 
acknowledgment of the committee’s appreciation of the noble 
chairman’s kindness on that occasion, have the greatest pleasure 
in recommending that Earl Carrington be this day elected a 
vice-president. 
It has been arranged for the next annual festival to take place 
at the Hotel Cecil on Tuesday, May 17th, and the committee are 
highly pleased to make the announcement that Sir J. J. Trevor 
Lawrence, Bark, K.C.V.O., president of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society, has most kindly promised to preside on that occa¬ 
sion. As the Royal Horticultural Society will this year cele¬ 
brate its centenary, it is especially gratifying to the committee 
that its president should have so kindly accepted their invita¬ 
tion, and trust that all friends of the charity will rally round 
them in support of so distinguished a patron of horticulture. 
Tire members of the committee who retire by rotation are 
Messrs. J. Assbee, W. H. Cutbush, G. Gordon, J. F. McLeod, 
T. A. Morris, G. H. Richards, and W. Roupell ; and Messrs. 
Assbee, Cutbush, Gordon, McLeod, Morris, and Roupell, being 
eligible, offer themselves for re-election. Mr. G. H. Richards 
does not offer himself for re-election, and Messrs. P. E. Kay 
and G. Nicholson having resigned, Messrs. William Bull, R. 
Hooper Pearson, and W. P. Thomson are nominated to fill the 
vacancies thus created. 
The committee have much pleasure in recording their appre¬ 
ciation of the admirable manner in which Mr. William Sherwood 
discharges the duties of treasurer on behalf of his father absent 
abroad, and in anticipation of Mr. Sherwood’s early return, as 
all hope, in renewed health and vigour, he is again nominated 
for re-election as treasurer. 
The committee have again pleasure in thanking Messrs. M. 
Rowan and P. Rudolph Barr for their most careful audit of the 
accounts of the fund. Mr. Rowan is the retiring auditor, and 
is nominated for re-election. 
CASH STATEMENT FOR 1903. 
RECE’PTS. 
To balance last account. 
Subscriptions. 
Donations. 
Legacy : Mr. A. E. Osier 
Emma Sherwood Memorial. 
Annual dinner. 
Advertisements in List of Subscribers 
Sundry receipts. 
Dividends on Stock and interest on deposit 
Income Tax returned. 
A'ole.—Investments 
3 per cent. London and County Consolidated Stock 
3 per cent. Canada Stock. 
L. and N.W. Railway Preference Stock 
Great Indian Peninsula Railway Guaranteed 3 per cent. Stock 
Thomson Memorial Trust : 
East Indian Railway B. Annuity of £14, cost. 
2£ per cent. Consols. 
Expenditure. 
By allowances to orphans, etc. . 
Annual dinner. 
Secretary’s salary . 
Printing and posting List of Subscribers. 
Printing, stationery, rent, etc. . 
Purchase of £380 12s. 2d. 2J per cent. Consols 
Balances : Cash at bank, etc. .. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
. 1.198 
17 
4 
. 299 
8 
0 
254 
3 
5 
25 
0 
0 
13 
0 
0 
. 681 
2 
0 
29 
11 
0 
4 
10 
0 
. 319 
4 
11 
20 
4 
4 
£2,845 
i 
0 
.£7,240 
15 
10 
. 2,000 
0 
0 
. 340 
0 
0 
. 514 
0 
0 
. 430 
11 
0 
. 380 12 
2 
£ 
s. 
d. 
. 1,255 
10 
0 
174 
4 
4 
. 100 
0 
0 
35 
9 
7 
9 
4 
350 
0 
0 
2,012 
13 
3 
. 832 
7 
9 
£2,845 
1 
0 
Having inspected the securities and examined the books and vouchers 
supplied to us, we hereby certify the above account to be correct. 
February, 1904. 
P. Rudolph Baku, 
M. Rowan, 
1 
r 
Auditors. 
After making some remarks, the chairman proposed the 
adoption of the report. In seconding the proposal, Mr. 
Harry J. Veitch said that when we remember that the fund 
now supports nearly 200 children, it had attained a success 
which the late Mr. Penny, who originally proposed the forma¬ 
tion of it, could hardly have imagined would accrue. This 
was carried unanimously. 
Mr. George Gordon proposed that the Right Hon. Lord Carring¬ 
ton be elected a vice-president, Mr. W. Roupell proposed that 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood be re-elected treasurer. Mr. J. Assbee 
proposed that the auditors be re-elected. Mr. R, H. Pearson 
proposed the re-election of the retiring members of the 
